The deer kill in Virginia has been more or less stable for the past few seasons. It was up slightly this season, about 10,000, with a total harvest of 209,197 deer in Virginia. This total included 103,310 antlered bucks, 15,000 button bucks, and 90,887 does (43%). The record year was 2009 with a total kill in excess of 250,000 animals.
Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 15,078 deer, comprising 7% of the total deer kill. Crossbows accounted for 11,719 deer or 6% of the total deer kill. Muzzleloader hunters killed 42,517 deer or 20% of the total deer kill. Approximately 167,700 deer (80%) were checked using the Department’s telephone and Internet checking systems.
Stable or declining deer kill trends over the past decade in Virginia were expected, but the ups and downs in recent years’ totals were in some part attributable to mast conditions and/or Hemorrhagic Disease outbreaks. The Department’s primary deer management effort over the past decade was to increase the female deer kill over much of the state, especially on private lands, to meet the deer population objectives of stabilizing or reducing deer populations found in the Department’s deer management plan. The Department’s deer management staff anticipated that these high and sustained female deer kill levels would eventually lead to a decrease in the statewide deer herd and stable to declining total deer kill numbers experienced over the past decade.
Bear hunters also enjoyed a good season with a total harvest of 2,331, the second highest harvest ever recorded in Virginia. A number of factors influence the annual bear harvest including weather, mast crops, and shifts in hunter effort and participation. The 2015-16 hunting season was the first season with the new bear license requirement with 30,780 resident bear licenses and 926 non-resident bear licenses being sold. In addition to these licensed hunters, hunters exempt from purchasing a bear license killed 361 bears harvested during the season. Compared to the very good mast crop in 2014, mast production in 2015 was very spotty. Annual mast conditions greatly influence the distribution of the bear harvest among hunting seasons. As bears concentrate around available food sources, they may become more vulnerable to harvest by early season hunters when food is scarce (especially in poor mast years), and may den earlier to conserve resources. Since 2008, harvests have exceeded 2,000 bears, the highest being in 2014 (2,412 bears) and the lowest in 2011 (2,005 bears).
The fall turkey season produced a total kill of 3.283, about the same as the previous season.
Trout Stocking
Bath Co.: Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek (2/24)
Fauquier Co.: Thompson WMA Pond (2/23)
Floyd Co.: West Fork Little River (2/22)
Frederick Co.: Clearbrook Lake (2/24); Wilkins Lake (2/24)
Giles Co.: Big Stoney Creek (2/23)
Grayson Co.: Big Wilson Creek (2/24)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (Above Talbott) (2/23); Round Meadow Creek (2/23)
Prince William Co.: Locust Shade Park (2/22)
Rockbridge Co.: Maury River (2/23); Mill Creek (2/23)
Rockingham Co.: Slate Lick Lake (2/24); Slate Lick Run (2/24)
Scott Co.: Stock Creek (2/23)
Washington Co.: Beartree Lake (2/23)
Wise Co.: Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) (2/23); South Fork Powell River (2/23)
Chickahominy River
Yours truly and my fishing sidekick, Tim Tigner, fished the Chick on Monday hoping for yellow perch or crappie. Those two species made themselves scarce but the channel cats were biting. Mike Johncox at Riverside Camp noted that a 7-½ pound largemouth was caught over the weekend.
Reports are that crappie also made a strong showing just below Walkers Dam last weekend, so as soon as the weather stabilizes, it should be game on for crappie, perch and bass.
Potomac Report
Almost there!
Days are getting longer and water is warming very slowly. Presentations must be slow. Slightly stained water will make things a bit tough this week.
Fish will be in out of the current areas with steeper drops. The Spoils Cove, National Harbor, and Belle Haven Cove are good areas. Start with Silver Buddy lures on 8-pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line. Cast to drop edges and work down. Very short burps and slow drops.
Try Mann’s Stingray grubs on 1/4 ounce ball head jigs, Mizmo tubes on 1/4 ounce insert heads, and Mizmo Doodle worms on 1/4 ounce BarbWire shaky heads. Use 6-pound test GAMMA Edge on Quantum EXO spinning gear. Gentle lifts and drops, allowing baits to sit. Soak in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray.
Also try drop shot on 6-pound test Edge. In areas without much cover, use red Mustad Octopus hooks to nose hook green pumpkin doodle worms and tip tails in chartreuse dye. A 3/16-ounce or heavier Water Gremlin BullShot weight can hold it in place.
In warm water discharge areas, like Blue Plains, Four Mile Run, and Quantico Creek, use suspending Lucky Craft Pointer 78 jerkbaits. In deeper areas, try a Lucky Craft Bevy Shad. Use 6-pound test Edge as well. Short snaps, long pauses. Spinning gear makes them easier to cast into the wind. Gold colors for stained water. Shad patterns or clown in clear.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the high 40’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday (2/24/2016). The lake level was about five inches above the top of the dam. The water was medium brown and slightly cloudy in the central lower lake, with more murky water along downwind shorelines.
Some blue cats and a few bullheads were still in channels and winter holes, but others had moved onto flats and into creeks. Cats were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Crappie action was picking up as loose aggregates migrated into major creeks. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Small to medium yellow perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main lake flats and in channels and were hitting live minnows, small drop shot baits, and small jigs. Some bass, pickerel, and bowfin were along drop-offs and in the backs of major creeks and when active were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.
Smith Mountain Lake
Contributed by Captain Travis Patsell of Cats N ‘ Stripers Fishing Charters (540) 580-3487.
Stripers: Bait fishing will be very productive right now. Large gizzards pulled behind planer boards will be effective for larger stripers. Catching the gizzard shad can be the difficult part. The larger the cast net the better. Alewives and peanut shad will be an easier option and can produce larger numbers. Fish them on all methods. Downlines, planers and lite lines. Look for fish deep down in the middle of the rivers.
Occoquan River
Contributed by local angler Jim Thomas. “The river temp is below 40 degrees and the water is muddy. I was not anticipating much. However, there was a considerable flathead catfish bite in the channel of the river. The fish, weighing between 15 and 40 pounds, were being caught on Silver Buddies fished right on the bottom. It is hard to believe that these big fish were taking such tiny baits. The ensuing battles were interesting considering the small hooks on Silver Buddies. Many fish were lost but enough were caught to make for some very happy anglers, including myself.
Virginia Saltwater
Between the snow and rain and high winds, there has been little or no action on the Virginia saltwater scene. Togs are biting when anglers can get their boats out of port. A warming trend this weekend should help get things going.
Outer Banks
Nothing to report at Nags Head.
At Hatteras, anglers are catching a few keeper puppy drum, around 25-inches, and a number of smaller, 15-inch reds. Over the weekend, the drum bite was very good at The Point. GULP baits with jig heads were productive.
No reports from offshore anglers due to nasty weather.